ADHD in Adults: Does Age at Diagnosis Matter?
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| Title: | ADHD in Adults: Does Age at Diagnosis Matter? |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Chloe Hutt Vater, Maura DiSalvo, Alyssa Ehrlich, Haley Parker, Hannah O'Connor (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Attention Disorders. 2024 28(5):614-624. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | U01AR07609201A1 1R21MH1264940 R01MH116037 1R01NS12853501 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Age Differences, Clinical Diagnosis, Adults, Children, Individual Characteristics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Executive Function, Educational Attainment, Individual Differences, Behavior, Validity |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10870547231218450 |
| ISSN: | 1087-0547 1557-1246 |
| Abstract: | Objective: To provide additional information about clinical features associated with adult ADHD in patients diagnosed in childhood compared to those first diagnosed in adulthood. Method: We stratified a sample of adults with ADHD into patients diagnosed in childhood versus adulthood and compared demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: We found similar clinical features in adults diagnosed in childhood and adults diagnosed in adulthood. Among those diagnosed in adulthood, 95% reported symptom onset in youth. Our results do not support the hypothesis that ADHD diagnosed in adulthood is due to misinterpreting symptoms of other disorders as ADHD. They also suggest incorporating behavioral signs of executive dysfunction into diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adults may increase diagnostic sensitivity. Conclusion: These results support the validity of ADHD diagnoses in adulthood, as these adults show similar clinical profiles to those diagnosed in youth. Our results also suggest that if adult-onset ADHD exists, it is rare. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1440579 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Objective: To provide additional information about clinical features associated with adult ADHD in patients diagnosed in childhood compared to those first diagnosed in adulthood. Method: We stratified a sample of adults with ADHD into patients diagnosed in childhood versus adulthood and compared demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: We found similar clinical features in adults diagnosed in childhood and adults diagnosed in adulthood. Among those diagnosed in adulthood, 95% reported symptom onset in youth. Our results do not support the hypothesis that ADHD diagnosed in adulthood is due to misinterpreting symptoms of other disorders as ADHD. They also suggest incorporating behavioral signs of executive dysfunction into diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adults may increase diagnostic sensitivity. Conclusion: These results support the validity of ADHD diagnoses in adulthood, as these adults show similar clinical profiles to those diagnosed in youth. Our results also suggest that if adult-onset ADHD exists, it is rare. |
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| ISSN: | 1087-0547 1557-1246 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10870547231218450 |
